Earth anchors

ABSTRACT

My invention relates to earth anchors, particularly to devices which may be screwed into the earth so as to form a solid grip for anchoring plastic or paper between rows in gardens to minimize the growth of weeds and to prevent evaporation of moisture. The device may also be used to anchor covering for trees and plants to prevent damage from frost, as well as to anchor ornamental lawn fence edging and the like. My improved earth anchor comprises an elongated rod which has auger-type screw threads extending from a tip at its bottom to substantially the entire length of the rod. A top member is pivoted to the upper end of the rod so that it may be swung from one position wherein it is disposed crosswise of the rod upper end to act as a hold-down device for an object to be held to the earth, to another position wherein it is disposed longitudinally of the rod to act as an indicator device.

United States Patent ml Ford 1 EARTH ANCHORS [76] Inventor: John B. Ford. 61 I8 Wclwhcr-(olc Rd. Kinsman Ohio 44428 [22] Filed: Aug. 19, 1974 [21] Appl, No.: 498,659

[52] US. Cl 40/10 C: 52/104; 40/10 C; 52/157; 85/3 R; 135/15 PE [51] Int. (11. EOZD 5/74; A45F 1/16; G09F 3/18 [58] Field of Search i. 135/15 PE; 52/103, 157, 52/102, 104; 85/3 R;47/33;1l(1/114 AJ;

1451 Sept. 9, 1975 Primary l.\ummt'rWerner Hi Schroeder Amman! E.\'unmm--Conrad Li Bcrman All/H710). Agtlll, r)! Firm-Michael Williams [57] ABSTRACT My invention relates to earth anchors particularly to devices which may be screwed into the earth so as to form a solid grip for anchoring plastic or paper hetween rows in gardens to minimize the growth of weeds and to prevent evaporation of moisture. The device may also be used to anchor covering for trees and plants to prevent damage from frost as well as to anchor ornamental lawn fence edging and the like. My improved earth anchor comprises an elongated rod which has auger-type screw threads extending from a tip at its bottom to substantially the entire length of the rod A top member is pivoted to the upper end of the rod so that it may be swung from one position wherein it is disposed crosswise of the rod upper end to act as a hold-down device for an object to he held to the earth, to another position wherein it is disposed longitudinally of the rod to act as an indicator device.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures EARTH ANCHORS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Ground stakes for guy and tent ropes are known, as are stakes for holding ground coverings and for identi fying the location and type of planted seeds, but these have usually been of the variety comprising a pointed wooden or metal peg which is forced into the ground.

My invention provides an earth anchor which is adapted for mass production and which serves an all purpose function in that it may be used to anchor ground covering, ornamental lawn fences, guy and tent ropes, as well as for indicators for the type of plants or vegetables planted in seed form.

The anchor comprises a low-cost assembly of a rod having augcntype threads substantially throughout its length and a crosshead pivoted to the upper end of the rod. The cross-head may be disposed in position crosswise of the rod to serve as a substantial anchoring element for ground coverings or for plants, tree coverings, or for rope or like hold-down devices. The cross-head may be pivoted to a position wherein it is disposed longitudinally of the rod and is provided with replaceable strips which identify the seed planted in a predetermined location.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application, there is shown, for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume, and in this drawing:

FIG. I is a small scale side elevational view of my improved earth anchor,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view corresponding to the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the head member of the anchor in position crosswise of the supporting rod. and an indicia-bearing slip in separated relation;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the head member in position longitudinally of the supporting rod,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one end of the head member, and

FIGS. 6 through 8 show certain uses of my improved earth anchor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As seen in the various views in the drawing, the earth anchor comprises a supporting rod member 10 which is provided with an auger-type screw thread II from its lower tip I2 to a point short of its upper end. The rod member is preferably formed of a rigid. plastic material, although it may be formed of metal.

Pivotally mounted to the upper end of the rod memher is a head member 14 which is preferably formed of a rigid, clear plastic. The head member is U-shape in cross-section, as best seen in FIG. 2, and a pivot pin 15 extends through a hole in the upper end of the rod member and through aligned holes in the legs 16-16 of the head member. If necessary, the opposite ends of the pin 15 may be headed, as shown, to hold the pin in place.

The pivot formed by the pin 15 is intermediate the ends of the head member 14 to provide arms l7 and 18 on opposite sides of the pivot. At its extremity, the arm I8 is formed with a transverse wall 19 which spans the U-shaped cross-section of the arm. A key-hole opening 20 is formed in the wall 19 so that when the head member 14 is swung to a position longitudinally of the rod member, a peripheral portion of the rod member snaps through the small part of the opening 20 and is thereby releasably held within the opening. As seen in FIG. 4, the arm I8 encompasses a substantial portion of the upper end of the rod member.

A replaceable strip 2] is disposed within the head member and bears indicia which may be seen through the clear plastic material. Preferably, opposed inside wall surfaces of the head member are provided with longitudinally extending grooves 22-22 for slidably receiving the strip 21 so that the latter may be replaced at will. The strip 21 may be formed of plastic, paper, or the like, and preferably that surface of the strip which faces upwardly is provided with a fluorescent covering so that it will glow in the dark.

In FIG. 6, my improved device is shown in position to anchor an ornamental lawn fence in position. Such fence is usually formed of wire or plastic to provide an ornamental loop effect, with the loops interconnected by horizontal wire or plastic members 25. The anchor is shown threaded into the earth with the head member 14 overlying a portion of the lower horizontal fence member 25.

In FIG. 7, a cover 26 formed of paper or flexible material is disposed in position to cover plants. In this case the rod member 10 may be pushed through the covering and threaded into the earth.

In FIG. 8, my improved device is shown in position to anchor a tent or guy rope which usually has a loop 27 at its end. In use, the rod member 10 is disposed through the loop and screwed into the earth until the head member 14 secures the loop to the ground. The fact that the strip 21 has fluorescent properties will easily locate the anchor and the lower end of the tent or guy rope so that no one will trip thereover.

I claim:

1. An earth anchor, comprising:

an elongated rigid supporting rod member having auger-type screw threads which extend from its lower tip to substantially the entire length thereof.

a head member which is U-shaped in cross-section with its legs pivoted to the upper end of said rod member intermediate the length of said head member to provide arms on either side of the pivot so that said head member may be swung from one position wherein it is disposed cross-wise of said rod member, to another position wherein it is disposed longitudinally of said rod member,

the upper extremity of said rod member above the pivot being disposed within the confines of said head member when the latter is in said one position,

one arm of said head member encompassing at least a peripheral portion of the upper part of said rod member when said head member is in its other position,

said one arm having a transverse wall which spans the U-shaped cross-section of said head member, said wall having a keyhole opening providing marginal surfaces which engage said rod member with a snap fit to yieldably hold said head member in said other position.

2. An earth anchor, comprising:

said grooves. and said strip is ofa width so that its longitudinal edge portions slidably fit within respective grooves.

an elongated supporting rod having augcrtypc scrcwthreads which extend continuously from its lower tip to substantially an upper end portion, said rod being adapted to be screwed into the ground an amount wherein at least its upper end portion projects above the ground surface.

a cross-head of rigid clear. plastic sheet material which is U-shapcd in cross-section to provide spaced legs joined by a bight. the upper end portion of said rod closely fitting between said legs and a pivot pin passing through aligned openings in said legs and said rod upper portion to pivotally connect said cross-head to said rod upper end portion intermediate the opposite ends of said head and thereby provide head arms on either side of said pin.

said crosshead being swingable about said pivot to move it from position cross-wise of said rod upper end portion to another position wherein it extends longitudinally relative to said rod, with one arm fitting around said rod upper end portion and the other arm extending upwardly from the latter,

the extremity of said rod upper end portion being spaced from the inner surface of said bight an amount sufficient so that it does not engage such bight surface during swinging action of said crosshead.

and a strip of material disposed within and longitudinally of said cross-head within the space between said rod extremity and said bight inner surface, said strip being visible through said clear, plastic crosshead 3. The construction according to claim 2 wherein legs have opposed longitudinally extending 4. An earth anchor. comprising:

an elongated rigid supporting rod having auger-type screw-threads which extend continuously from its lower tip to substantially an upper end portion, said rod being adapted to be screwed into the ground an amount wherein at least its upper end portion projects above the ground surface a cross-head of rigid sheet material which is U- shaped in cross-section to provide spaced legs joined by a bight which has a smooth unbroken outer surface, the upper end portion of said rod closely fitting between said legs and a pivot pin passing through aligned openings in said legs and said rod upper portion to pivotally connect said head to said rod upper end portion intermediate the opposite ends of said head and thereby provide head arms on either side of said pivot pin,

said cross-head being swingable about said pivot pin to move it from position cross-wise of said rod upper end portion to another position wherein it extends longitudinally relative to said rod, with one arm fitting around said rod upper end portion and the other arm extending upwardly from the latter.

the extremity of said rod upper end portion being spaced from the inner surface of said bight an amount sufficient so that it is at all times within said bight and yet does not engage such bight surface during swinging action of said cross-head,

said smooth unbroken surface of said bight protecting against injury if a part of a person comes in contact therewith when said cross-head is in its position cross-wise of said rod and the latter is screwed into the ground. 

1. An earth anchor, comprising: an elongated rigid supporting rod member having augertype screw threads which extend from its lower tip to substantially the entire length thereof, a head member which is U-shaped in cross-section with its legs pivoted to the upper end of said rod member intermediate the length of said head member to provide arms on either side of the pivot so that said head member may be swung from one position wherein it is disposed cross-wise of said rod member, to another position wherein it is disposed longitudinally of said rod member, the upper extremity of said rod member above the pivot being disposed within the confines of said head member when the latter is in said one position, one arm of said head member encompassing at least a peripheral portion of the upper part of said rod member when said head member is in its other position, said one arm having a transverse wall which spans the U-shaped cross-section of said head member, said wall having a keyhole opening providing marginal surfaces which engage said rod member with a snap fit to yieldably hold said head member in said other position.
 2. An earth anchor, comprising: an elongated supporting rod having auger-type screwthreads which extend continuously from its lower tip to substantially an upper end portion, said rod being adapted to be screwed into the ground an amount wherein at least its upper end portion projects above the ground surface, a cross-head of rigid clear, plastic sheet material which is U-shaped in cross-section to provide spaced legs joined by a bight, the upper end portion of said rod closely fitting between said legs and a pivot pin passing through aligned openings in said legs and said rod upper portion to pivotally connect said cross-head to said rod upper end portion intermediate the opposite ends of said head and thereby provide head arms on either side of said pin, said cross-head being swingable about said pivot to move it from position cross-wise of said rod upper end portion to another position wherein it extends longitudinally relative to said rod, with one arm fitting around said rod upper end portion and the other arm extending upwardly from the latter, the extremity of said rod upper end portion being spaced from the inner surface of said bight an amount sufficient so that it does not engage such bight surface during swinging action of said cross-head, and a strip of material disposed within and longitudinally of said cross-head within the space between said rod extremity and said bight inner surface, said strip being visible through said clear, plastic cross-head.
 3. The construction according to claim 2 wherein said legs have opposed longitudinally extending grooves, and said strip is of a width so that its longitudinal edge portions slidably fit within respective grooves.
 4. An earth anchor, comprising: an elongated rigid supporting rod having auger-type screw-threads which extend continuously from its lower tip to substantially an upper end portion, said rod being adapted to be screwed into the ground an amount wherein at least its upper end portion projects above the ground surface, a cross-head of rigid sheet material which is U-shaped in cross-section to provide spaced legs joined by a bight which has a smooth, unbroken outer surface, the upper end portion of said rod closely fitting between said legs and a pivot pin passing through aligned openings in said legs and said rod upper portion to pivotally connect said head to said rod upper end portion intermediate the opposite ends of said head and thereby provide head arms on either side of said pivot pin, said cross-head being swingable about said pivot pin to move it from position cross-wise of said rod upper end portion to another position wherein it extends longitudinally relative to said rod, with one arm fitting around said rod upper end portion and the other arm extending upwardly from the latter, the extremity of said rod upper end portion being spaced from the inner surface of said bight an amount sufficient so that it is at all times within said bight and yet does not engage such bight surface during swinging action of said cross-head, said smooth unbroken surface of said bight protecting against injury if a part of a person comes in contact therewith when said cross-head is in its position cross-wise of said rod and the latter is screwed into the ground. 